"When Israel was a child, then I loved him" (Hosea xi. 1). Aim to be ever this little child, contented with what the Father gives of pleasure or of play; and when restrained from pleasure or from play, and led for a season into the chamber of sorrow, rest quiet on His bosom, and be patient, and smile, as one who is nestled in a sweet and secure asylum. ANON. April 26 _If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it_.--ROM. viii. 25. _One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day_.--2 PETER iii. 8. Lord! who Thy thousand years dost wait To work the thousandth part Of Thy vast plan, for us create With zeal a patient heart. J. H. NEWMAN. I believe that if we could only see beforehand what it is that our heavenly Father means us to be,--the _soul_ beauty and perfection and glory, the glorious and lovely spiritual body that this soul is to dwell in through all eternity,--if we could have a glimpse of _this_, we should not grudge all the trouble and pains He is taking with us now, to bring us up to that ideal, which is His thought of us. We know that it is God's way to work slowly, so we must not be surprised if He takes a great many years of discipline to turn a mortal being into an immortal, glorious angel. ANNIE KEARY. April 27 _Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor_,--ZECH. viii. 16. _For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity... we have had our conversation in the world_.--2 COR. i. 12. Appear I always what I am? And am I what I am pretending? Know I what way my course is bending? And sound my word and thought the same? ANON. Am I acting in simplicity, from a germ of the Divine life within, or am I shaping my path to obtain some immediate result of expediency? Am I endeavoring to compass effects, amidst a tangled web of foreign influences I cannot calculate; or am I seeking simply to do what is right, and leaving the consequences to the good providence of God? M. A. SCHIMMELPENNINCK. Let it not be in any man's power to say truly of thee that thou art not simple, or that thou art not good; but let him be a liar whoever shall think anything of this kind about thee; and this is altogether in thy power. For who is he that shall hinder thee from being good and simple? MARCUS ANTONINUS. April 28 _The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand_.--PS. cxxi. 5. _Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them_.--PS. cxix. 165. I rest beneath the Almighty's shade, My griefs expire, my troubles cease; Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed, Wilt keep me still in perfect peace. C. WESLEY.